Ankle support



June 2, 1970 J. R. BAKER 3,515,136

ANKLE SUPPORT Filed June 23. 1967 F I 6 INVENTOR. F l G. 5 JACK R. BAKER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,515,136 ANKLE SUPPORT Jack R. Baker, Lincoln, R.I., assignor to Jariba Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 23, 1967, Ser. No. 648,484 Int. Cl. A6lf 13/02 US. Cl. 128-166 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ankle supporter made from a single piece of inelastic material which has a single joint at the ankle and comprises an arch member and a member encircling the Achilles tendon with an elastic fastening means over the instep portion whereby the entire member may be tightened around the ankle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ankle supporters which are designed primarily for those engaged in physical activity which activity subjects the foot to unusual stresses. It has been quite common to tape ankles of athletes, but the normal taping of ankles and the foot is sometimes objectionable in that it exerts an excessive pressure on the ankle at all times, and if it is fitted tight enough to really be effective against strains, it may be exceedingly uncomfortable. In the prior art there have been many attempts at the manufacture of suitable ankle supporters for athletes, and the usual type of support is similar to supporters such as exemplified by the Bromley Pat. 1,658,- 037. This particular patent illustrates a normal prior art type of ankle supporter with some additional functional features and is particularly characterized by having a laced-up instep. This type of ankle supporter is objectionable because of the lacing, and if laced tightly enough to be effective for its intended purpose is too inelastic to provide the necessary freedom of movement of the foot in certain competitive sports such as football, for example, where one goes into a crouching position. The instant invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing an ankle supporter which is suitable for quick application to the ankle to reinforce it for athletic activity by providing an inelastic body material which is shaped to encircle the ankle of the foot and be held in position by an elastic fastener member that passes over the instep of the foot. This arrangement provides the desired support for the ligaments of the foot and because of the elastic instep fastening means may be readily adapted to give under strain so as to be comfortable in all positions of athletic activity.

SUMMARY The invention provides a yieldable ankle supporter of construction that offers resistance to abnormal ankle movements by virtue of a substantial inelastic body material and an elastic fastening member over the instep. The ankle supporter is shaped and contoured so as to fit the ankle advantageously and may be provided at the heel portion with a cushion piece which extends outwardly from the edge of the inelastic body member to provide comfort at the heel area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the ankle supporter of this invention fully applied to a foot;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the supporter in partially applied position with the elastic fastening member open;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the supporter;

Patented June 2, 1970 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings the ankle supporter is illustrated as comprising a body member 10 (FIG. 5) of substantially inelastic material which is shaped with a heel cutout as at 11 and with two edges 12 and 13. The edges 12 and 13 are adapted to be brought into abutting relationship and are stitched together to form a seam 14 located along the inside of the foot when in use. This seam may be suitably protected on the inner side of the supporter by a tape 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4). To provide protection along the edges of the body member, binding tape may be provided about the ankle cutout portion as at 16, and also a binding may be provided as at 17 about the outer edge of the device. At the heel cutout portion it is preferable to provide a cushion material 1-8 which can be sponge rubber or other suitable cushioning. This cushioning material is fastened to the main body by stitching 19, and as particularly shown in FIG. 6, the cushioning material extends below the lower edge and binding 16 of the heel cutout portion. In this fashion any pressure that is exerted against the lower binding of the heel is suitably protected by this extending cushioning material.

An elastic band or fastening member 20 is stitched to one side of the body member as at the ankle portion by stitching 21 and may be provided with suitable detach able securing means such as Velcro which comprises in combination a fabric pad 22 and a second fabric portion 23, the latter composed of a plurality of mono-filament hooks which when pressed against the fabric part 22 will engage the fabric part 22 and hold the parts together. This form of securing may be substituted for the stitching 21. It should be understood in the illustrative form, the ankle supporter is shown for the left foot. The difference between a left foot and a right foot configuration is in the orientation of the fastener 20 since it is easier to selffasten an angle supporter by pulling towards the instep. The fastened portion, therefore, should be on the outer part of the foot. This is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2 where the ankle supporter is shown partially placed on the foot with the elastic strap portion 20 being in position to be pulled across the instep of the foot. It is not limiting that the fastening means be positioned in this fasion, but it is more convenient for the user to have a left and a right orientation of the fastening means.

In some cases it is advantageous to provide a strap portion which will encircle the lower leg or upper ankle for providing support for the lateral muscles in that area. In cases where this is desired, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a non-elastic strap 30 is secured to the rear portion of Achilles tendon portion of the ankle supporter as by stitching 31 and has a length sufficient to wrap around the lower leg portion. For fastening, the free end of the strap 30 may be provided with Velcro, the mono-filament hooks placed as at 33, and a cooperative pad placed as at 32.

Generally referring to the entire device, it will be noted when it is applied to the foot that it consists essentially of an arch-encircling portion 40 and an Achilles tendon ortion 42. The primary areas where undesirable rubbing can occur by the provision of seams has been completely eliminated since the two critical areas 40 and 42 are completely free of seams, the only seam occurring at the ankle bone portion which is, in turn, protected by an inner protecting tape. Further, comfort is maintained by the provision of an ankle cushion pad and the entire assembly being able to give slightly across the instep binding area.

I claim:

1. An ankle supporter comprising a unitary body of substantially inelastic flexible material shaped to encircle the ankle, said body including an arch member portion to pass under the foot, ankle portions and an Achilles tendon member portion, each of said portions having an arcuate edge which are a continuation of each other'that form a heel cutout, said body material permanently fastened together at one of the ankle portions on a line substantially perpendicular to the arcuate edge, an elastic fas tened member fastened to said body at one ankle portion and releasably attached to the opposite ankle portion whereby said elastic fastener passes over the instep and draws the body member tightly about the foot, a leg encircling strap fastened at one end thereof to the upper edge of the Achilles tendon member portion and pro- References Cited 0 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,040,279 10/1912 Collis 128-166 1,639,198 8/1927 Pease 128166 2,450,862 10/1948 Wilkinson 12880 2,645,222 7/1953 Capossela 128166 3,383,708 5/ 1968 Pappas 222 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 222; 128-171 

